Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for Jan. 6, 2025

A good Monday morning to you all! First Monday of 2025 and we’re getting towards a fun part of the racing calendar. I know there’s an official start to the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but I always view the Lecomte (G3) as kind of the real kick-off of it for me. If you asked me to name my top 10 newly turned three-year-olds, I’m not sure I could even name 10 of them. But post-Lecomte, we get into having preps for the Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) almost every weekend and we start to get to know this year's three-year-old class a little bit better. 

With Bob Baffert back into the mix for the Kentucky Derby, he’ll no doubt be an even bigger storyline than he normally is, just because of the three-year suspension coming to an end. I started to say on my podcast for Monday, "He probably really wants to win it this year." But I stopped myself and out loud ridiculed myself for such a dumb comment because of course he wants to win it every year. Also, as a trainer, he can’t really “try harder” to win a race. But early returns so far he’s got a number of bullets as expected, including Barnes, who was terrific this weekend winning the San Vicente (G2) out at Santa Anita. 

A little closer to home (well my home anyway), we saw Guns Loaded score in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream. The one-turn mile race saw Guns Loaded make the lead, pull away turning for home and then nearly get caught by longshot Treaty of Rome. To me it looked like the classic “didn’t get the distance” type effort from Guns Loaded. It only being his third start, though, certainly there’s room for improvement and more fitness. But the fact that he was opening up turning for home and then getting tired at the end gave me pause on him going forward to longer distances and eventually two turns. 

Everyone have a great week! 

A little closer to home (well my home anyway), we saw Guns Loaded score in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream. The one-turn mile race saw Guns Loaded make the lead, pull away turning for home and then nearly get caught by longshot Treaty of Rome. To me it looked like the classic “didn’t get the distance” type effort from Guns Loaded. It only being his third start, though, certainly there’s room for improvement and more fitness. But the fact that he was opening up turning for home and then getting tired at the end gave me pause on him going forward to longer distances and eventually two turns. 

Everyone have a great week!